Adjustable light shield for trouble lamp guards



May 30, 1950 c. E. VAN DUZER 2,510,001

INVEN TOR, C/arenre flmfluzer BY LAMAMM Patented May 30, 1950 UNITED ADJUSTABLE LIGHT SHIELD FOR TROUBLE LAlWP GUARDS Clarence E. Van Duzer, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to Richard A. Van Duzer, Cleveland, Ohio Application April 19, 1948, Serial No. 21,816

Claims. 1

This invention relates, generally, to lighting fixtures, and more particularly to the class known as trouble lamps that are intended for use especially around automotive vehicles and garages for illuminating parts of a vehicle or other objects on which work is to be done.

As is generally known, this kind of a lamp involves a hollow handle into one end of which leads a relatively heavy, stifi electric extension cord or cable and in the other end of which is incorporated a lamp socket and switch. Clamped about the latter end of the handle is the split collar that forms the base of a cage-like guard. The guard is constructed in most part of heavy wire. It encloses an electric light bulb that is carried by said socket, and includes a hook by which the entire assembly may be suspended from a suitable support in a position to illuminate the part of a vehicle or other object that is to be worked upon. A light shield, in the nature of a reflector, is usually incorporated in a fixture of this kind, for the purpose of preventing the light from shining in the eyes of the worker, and heretofore these shields have usually been fixedly secured, as by soldering, to the inner side of the cage-like guard.

Because of the stiffness of the electric cable, and the fixed location of the suspension hook with respect to the light shield, it sometimes becomes very difficult to suspend the fixtures in a position in which the light shield will protect the eyes of the worker and properly direct the light upon the work. Much time is consumed in correctly positioning the lamp under these circumstances.

My invention has to do particularly with the improvement in guards for trouble lamps which resides in adjustably connecting the light shield to the guard so that it may be placed in any desired position about the lamp.

Therefore, an object of the invention is to provide a very simple and inexpensive means formovably supporting the light shield inside the guard, and another object is to provide means for conveniently adjusting the shield circumferentially of the guard.

A further object is to provide a construction that is especially quick and easy of assembly and therefore expedites and cheapens manufacture.

Still further objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the description proceeds, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein like reference characters designate like parts in the different views.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a so-called trouble lamp equipped with a guard incorporating my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the guard and lamp, and Fig. 3 is a detail in perspective of the light shield and its means of support and adjustment and showing the shield in operative relation to an electric light bulb.

In the assembly illustrated in Fig. 1, the handle of a conventional form of trouble lamp is designated I. A lamp socket 2 is incorporated in one end of the handle and supports an electric light bulb 3. The usual switch (not shown) is enclosed by the handle adjacent the socket 2, the handle being formed with customary protecting bosses 4 for the switch buttons. Clamped about the end of the handle surround the lamp socket 2 is the split base ring 5 of a cage-like guard that is designated, generally, by the reference numeral 6. Following common practice, wires 1 have their lower ends secured to the base ring 5 in suitably spaced relation to one another and these wires diverge upwardly and extend through holes in ring segments 8 and have their upper ends curved inwardly and secured to a hub 9. Fastened to one of the ring segments 8 is a hook H) by which the fixture may be suspended from a suitable support.

I2 is a light shield that is in the nature of a reflector. This shield is shown as semi-spherical, and it may be drawn from sheet metal, or appropriately formed from any other suitable material. It has two spaced holes adjacent its edge that receive, respectively, the return bend l5 and the shank 16 of a hook I! that is formed on the inner end of a spindle l8. This spindle is preferably made of wire of suitable gauge, and after being attached to the shield in the manner shown, has a spacer 19, in the form of a helical spring, engaged about it before its upper end is extended through a bearing aperture in. the hub 9 of the lamp guard. Outwardly beyond the hub, the wire is bent laterally at substantially right angles and then back upon itself to provide a, key-like handle 20.

With the light shield l2 thus mounted, it is held firmly down against the hook IT by the resilient spacer or spring 19 and its lower end is free to bear against the upwardly diverging portions of the adjacent wires 1. Now by turning the handle 20, the shield may be rotated about the lamp 3 to any desired position. Therefore, after the lamp is suspended by means of the hook 10, the shield I2 may be adjusted to such position as will prevent the light from shining in the eyes of the worker while, at the same time, it will 3 direct the light toward the object being worked upon.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, a cagelike guard having a substantially axial bearing aperture, a light shield within the guard, said shield consisting of a shallow cup-like shell having spaced holes adjacent an edge thereof, a spindle journaled in the aforesaid bearing aperture and having its inner end formed to provide a hook, the shank and return bend of .said hook respectively occupying said holes in the light shield, means on the spindle exteriorly of the guard for turning the spindle thereby to adjust the shield circumferentially of the guard, and a spacer surrounding the spindle "with one of its ends adjacent the light shield and its opposite end in proximity to the portion of the guard surrounding said aperture.

'2. In a device of the class described, a cagelike guard having a hub portion'provided with a bearing aperture substantially coincident with the axis of the guard, a spindle having a part journaled in said'aperture and formed at its inner end to provide a hook, a light shield consisting of a substantially semi-spherical shell having spaced holes adjacent an edge thereof, said holes being occupied, respectively, by the shank and return bend portions of said hook, a spacer sur- 4 rounding the spindle and having one of its ends adjacent the shield and its opposite end in juxtaposition to said hub, and a handle on the outer end of the spindle.

3. A guard for trouble lamps according to claim 2, wherein said spacer is resilient and bears at its opposite ends against and is compressed between the light shield and said hub portion.

4. A guard for trouble lamps according to claim 2, wherein said spacer consists of a helical spring having its inner end engaged with the light shield and its outer end engaged with said hub.

5. A guard for trouble lamps according to claim .2, wherein the spindle consists of a length of wire, the outer end portion of which is turned laterally for a distance in one direction adjacent said hub portion of the guard and thence back upon itself and continues in the opposite direction beyond the axis of the spindle a somewhat similar distance to provide a key-like handle for the spindle.

CLARENCE VAN DUZER.

EEFEREIECE'S GIT-ED The following references are of record in the file of this patent;

UNITE-D STATES PATEN Number Name Date 1506219 l-Iavens Nov. 9, 1926 1,692,892 Floyd Nov. 27, 1 928 

